Celebrating more than a century of athletic accomplishment, this richly illustrated compilation of sports memorabilia includes period photographs, artifacts, autographs, uniforms, sports equipment, and more honoring such legendary sports figures as Roberto Clemente, Honus Wagner, Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali, Jim Thorpe, and others.

At head of title: Featuring Joel Platt and the world's largest collection of sports memorabilia. Includes index.

Forewords / Franco Harris and Maurice Lucas -- Introduction: what is sports immortals? -- Spark that ignited the flame -- Joel Platt story -- Sports immortals -- Baseball -- Immortals who inspire: baseball -- Connie Mack -- Cy Young -- Christy Mathewson -- Honus Wagner & Ty Cobb -- Walter Johnson -- Babe Rugh -- Lou Gehrig -- Josh Gibson -- Jackie Robinson -- Satchel Paige -- Ted Williams -- Roberto Clemente -- Cal Ripkin Jr. -- Basketball -- Immortals who inspire: basketball -- George Mikan -- Wilt Chamberlain -- Oscar Robertson -- Bill Walton & Maurice Lucas -- Kareem Abkul-Jabbar -- Shaquille O'Neal -- Boxing -- Immortals who inspire: Boxing -- James Corgett vs John L. Sullivan, 1892 -- James Jeffries vs Jack Johnson, 1910 -- Jack Dempsey vs Gene Tunney, 1927 -- Joe Louis vs Billy Conn, 1941 -- Ray Robinson vs Jake LaMotta, 1951 -- Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston, 1964 -- Ray Leonard vs Marvin Hagler, 1987 -- Football -- Immortals who inspire: footmall -- Kim Thorpe -- Red Grange -- Sid Luckman -- 1958 NFL championship game -- Vince Lombardi -- Super Bown I -- Super bowl III -- Immaculate reception -- Walter Payton -- Immortals who inspire: Olympic sports -- Jim Thorpe -- Johnny Weissmuller -- Jesse Owens -- Mark Spitz -- Dorothy Hamill -- 1980 U.S. hockey team -- Other sports -- Immortals who inspire: other sports -- Bobby Jones -- Babe Didrickson Zaharias -- Jack Nicklaus -- Arnold Plamer -- Bobby Orr -- Gordie Howe -- Wayne Gretzky -- Eddie Arcaro & Angel Cordero -- Willie Shoemaker -- Don Budge -- Chris Evert/Bjorn Borg -- Andre Agassi vs Pete Sampras -- Richard Petey -- Dale Earnhard -- Pelé -- Gallery -- More images from the sports immortals collection -- Sports immortals museum: what the future holds -- Ed Calesa & Blue: testament to perseverance -- Index -- Acknowledgments.